A: A snake cable is a cable that contains 4 to 32 separate audio channels inside the same cable jacket. Snake cables are commonly used whenever multiple audio signals, like microphones, need to be sent to the same locations.

Q: What is a stage box?

A: A stage box is a rugged metal housing that is used to connect microphones and other audio devices to a snake cable. If acts as an extension that allows the sound desk to be moved further away from the stage.

Q: What does TS mean? What is a TS connector used for?

A: TS is the abbreviation for “Tip, Sleeve” and refers to a specific type of 1/4″ connector that is set up for 2-conductor, unbalanced operation. One insulator ring separates the tip and sleeve. The tip is generally considered the “hot,” or the carrier of the signal, while the sleeve is where the ground or shield is connected. TS cables are best known as guitar or line-level instrument cables.

Q: What does TRS mean? What is a TRS connector used for?

A: TRS is the abbreviation for “Tip, Ring, Sleeve.” It looks like a standard 1/4″ plug but with an extra “ring” on its shaft. TRS cables have two conductors plus a ground (shield). TRS connectors are commonly used to connect balanced equipment or for running both left and right mono signals to stereo headphones.

Q: Why is a ¼” connector sometimes called a “phone plug”?

A: The original 1⁄4 in (6.35 mm) version dates from 1878, when it was used for manual telephone exchanges, making it possibly the oldest electrical connector standard still in use. It was used for years by telephone operators to patch telephone connections together.

Q: What are XLR Cables commonly used for?

A: XLR Connectors are commonly used for professional audio, video and stage lighting equipment.

Q: What is a balanced cable and what makes them different then an unbalanced cable?

A: Balanced refers to a “three-legged” type of electrical signal that has two legs independent of ground. One is generally considered positive and the other negative in voltage and current flow with respect to ground. Both legs carry the signal. The benefit is that any noise that gets induced into the line will be common to both the positive and negative sides and is thus canceled when it arrives at its destination, assuming the destination is balanced. Balanced lines are generally best for long cable runs due to their ability to reject induced noises. XLR and TRS type cables are designed to transmit balanced audio from one balanced device to another.

Unbalanced cables are less complicated and less expensive but they have limitations. Any audio signal requires two wires or conductors to function. In an unbalanced cable situation, one of those conductors is used to carry both the audio signal and ground (shield). Unbalanced cables are much more susceptible to induced noise problems than their balanced counterparts because any induced noise in one conductor is not canceled by similar noise in the other conductor and may be carried with the signal into connected equipment. In general, unbalanced lines should be kept as short as possible to minimize potential noise problems.

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